Dendrobium angustispathum J.J.Sm., Nova Guinea 18 (1935) 44, pl. 9, 25.
Type: Lam 614 (holo BO); para: Docters van Leeuwen 9567 (BO).
Rhizome very short, roots about as thick as the stems. Stems crowded, unbranched, slender, terete, in upper part laterally compressed, 45-60 cm by 1.8 mm, internodes 2.7-3 cm long. Leaf sheaths near the apex minutely verruculose-rugulose, at the apex with an obtuse, triangular, rugulose tooth opposite the leaf-blade. Leaves patent, linear, gradually narrowing towards the apex, 9-11 by 0.36-0.4 cm, apex acute, folded lengthwise. Inflorescences laterally from the stems, very short; peduncle 0.4 cm long, 2-, sometimes 3, rarely 1-flowered, spathe 1.1 cm long. Pedicel 0.5 cm long; ovary 0.36 cm long. Flowers c. 7 cm across. Dorsal sepal 5 cm by 3 mm; mentum 0.4 cm long, obtuse. Petals 3.7 cm by 1.3 mm. Lip 3-lobed, when flattened 1 by 0.6 cm; midlobe 0.48 by 0.5 cm. Column 0.15 cm long; column-foot 0.4 cm long, with an apical cavity.
(after Smith, 1935).
Colours: Flower white, lip and mentum light salmon coloured, the lip in the middle with red margins, apex yellow, or lip white with violet markings, underside orange.
Habitat: Epiphyte or terrestrial in lowland rainforest. Altitude 0-100 m.
Flowering time in the wild: July.
Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Jayapura Regency: Mamberamo River).
Map: ANGSPMAP.JPG [Dendrobium angustispathum J.J.Sm., distribution map.]
Notes: Dendrobium angustispathum is closely related to Dendrobium acuminatissimum, Dendrobium dionaeoides, Dendrobium quinquecaudatum, and others.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.